Shoe cleaner



E. H. OSTEEN June 25, 1963 SHOE CLEANER Filed Feb. 23, 1961 n R w e 0 m e T n I N s A w M, H 1 v W e E Q9 w um um ut i mw mm a. w a g 55 r WW vm mm I an mo mm *N M Q mm Q Q9 N 8 mm United States Patent 3,094,727 SHOE CLEANER Emmett H. Osteen, Walsh, Colo. Filed Feb. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 91,246 3 Claims. (Cl. -4)

This invention relates to cleaning devices, and more particularly to a device for cleaning shoes, boots and other footwear.

Briefly, the invention comprises a generally horizontally extending shaft rotatably fixed a few inches above the ground or a floor and rotated by an electric motor or other power device. Mounted on the shaft and concentric therewith are a plurality of brushes especially adapted for cleaning footwear when rotated by the power means. Also mounted adjacent the brushes are a scraping device whereby, when a person desires to clean his shoes, it is only necessary that he scrape the excess mud or dirt off of his footwear by means of a scraping device and then insert them into the rotating brushes whereby they are automatically cleaned.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved device for cleaning footwear automatically and without requiring any human effort.

It is another object of this invention to provide a footwear cleaning device which has power driven cleaning brushes and a scraper mounted adjacent the brushes whereby a person may scrape his shoes and then use the scraper without substantially moving his foot as a support therefor while he cleans his footwear further by means of the brushes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view illustrating my invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a view illustrating the means for automatic actuation of the device comprising the present invention.

The invention comprises a generally horizontally extending drive shaft 10 rotatably mounted in annular bearing members 12 and 14 which are each secured at a peripheral point to coplanar flanges 16, 18, and 22.

'Each of the flanges has an elongated slot 24 extending therethrough for receiving a threaded stud 26. Two of the studs 26 are fixed to a vertically extending post or support member and two additional studs 26 are fixed to the vertically extending post 32 which is parallel to the post 30. The flanges 16, 18, 20 and 22 are adjustably secured to the vertically extending posts 30 and 32 by means of the threaded nuts 28 being tightened on the studs 26. Preferably, the annular bearing members 12 and 14 contain roller or ball bearings.

The posts 30 and 32 are preferably fixed or secured within a floor 34. The floor 34 may comprise the floor of a porch or garage, or even be a sidewalk, patio, etc. Also secured to the floor is an angle iron member 36 and flat plates 38 and 48. Preferably, the plates 38 and 40 are secured to the posts 30 and 32 by conventional means such as welding and the angle iron 36 is welded to the metallic plates 38 and 40.

A conventional electric motor 42 rests upon the plate 38 and is secured to the floor 34 by means of studs 44 which extend through apertures in mounts 46 and 48 and into the body of the floor.

3,094,721- Patented June 25, 1963 The motor 42 has a drive shaft 50 which is connected to the shaft 10 by means of a flexible coupling 52. The coupling 52 may comprise a piece of conventional reinforced rubber hose which receives adjacent ends of the shafts 5i and 10, and is clamped thereto by means of the conventional O-clamps 54.

Fixed to the shaft 10 are two identical brush assemblies 64 and 66 and four identical brush assemblies 56, 58, 60 and 62.

Each of the brush assemblies 56, 58, 60 and 62 comprise an annular plate 68 with a multitude of axially extending bristles 70 secured thereto by conventional means. Bristles 70 are very close and form a rather stiff mat. Each of the plates 68 has a central annular bore for snugly receiving the shaft 10. Mounted adjacent each of the plates 68 is a hub 72 substantially smaller in diameter than the plate. Each hub has a plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs 74 on one surface thereof and a bore 88 extending axially therethrough for receiving shaft 10. Each hub is locked to the shaft 10 by means of a radial screw 76 extending through the reduced hub portion 82 and into contact with the shaft. Four screws 78 extend through axial bores spaced around the periphery of the hub and are threaded into the plate 68 for driving it with the shaft.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the brush assemblies 56 and 58 are mounted with their bristles facing one another. Clamped between plate 68 and the brush assemblies 56 and 58 is an annular sleeve 82 having a bore 84 through its center for receiving the shaft 10.

The sleeve 82 is also fixed to the shaft 10 by conventional means such as a radial screw as shown at 76 in FIGURE 3. The sleeve 82 has its outer periphery entirely covered by radially extending bristles 86 which are of a similar texture and length as the bristles 70. Preferably, the bristles 70 only extend inwardly as far as the outer surface of the bristles 86 whereby the bristles 70 may overlap the bristles 86 and the sleeve 82 may abut against plate 68 adjacent its ends. The spacing between the adjacent free ends of the bristles 70 on the brush assemblies 56 and 58 and on the brush assemblies 60 and 62 is such as to be slightly less than the width of a conventional boot or shoe.

Mounted on one side of the brush assemblies is a horizontally extending scraper plate 88 which has its upper scraping edge 90 substantially horizontally aligned with the upper surface of the brush assemblies 64 and 66. The sraper plate 88 is rigidly fixed to the supporting members 30 and 32 by means of horizontally extending arms 32.

Fixed to the vertically extending leg of the angle member 36 are two rectangular cleaning plates 94 which fit snugly between the opposing ends of the bristles 70 and into rubbing contact with the outer ends of the bristles 86 of the brush assemblies 64 and 66.

In operation, the operator stands substantially midway between the two brush assemblies 66 and 64, and then raises one foot, such as his left foot which supports the left shoe 100. Then by rubbing the bottom of the shoe 160 back and forth on the scraper plate 88, he scrapes the dirt and mud 102 therefrom. He then moves the left shoe 109 to the left and places the shoe on the brush assembly 66 and between the brush assemblies 60 and 62 as shown. The brush assembly 66 then thoroughly cleans the bottom of the shoe while the brush assemblies 66 and 62 thoroughly clean the sides of the shoe 100. By pressing the shoe down and from side-to-side, the bristles will be forced effectively into all the cracks and crevices of the shoe for a more thorough cleaning thereof. Also, the operator may clean even top portions and rear portions of his shoe by tilting his foot back and forth or 3 from side to side. After the left shoe 100 is thoroughly cleaned in the manner described above, then the same procedure is repeated for the right foot except that the brush assemblies 56, 64 and 58 are used rather than the brush assemblies 60, 66 and 62.

The motor 42 is controlled by a switch which may be remotely located. Alternatively, the scraper plate 88 may be mounted on the vertical posts so as to have a slight oscillating movement about the point 104 where it is pivoted to the posts. The scraper bar 88 which is fixed to the arms 92 may be urged upwardly in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot points 104 as viewed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 by spring means 106 which would hold the arms 92 in a substantially horizontal position. The arms 92 may be associated with a switch means 108 for the motor 42 so that when they are urged downwardly by the operators foot as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the spring means 106 will give slightly thereby permitting the scraper support arms 92 to operate a switch 108 for cutting on the motor 42. Also, when the operators foot is removed from the scraper plate 88, the spring means 106 supporting the arms 92 and plate 88 urges them upwardly slightly for cutting off the switch 108. In this manner, the cleaning device may be automatically started whenever it is used, a conventional off-on switch (not illustrated) being provided for deactivating the motor during extended periods of non-use or when heavy scraping of a shoe is required.

In use, the scraper plate 94 effectively removes the mud 102 from the six brush assemblies as they are rotated and rub against the scraper plate.

My cleaning device may also be used even when the motor 42 is omitted. By moving an article of footwear manually back and forth between the brush assemblies 57 or 59, the footwear thus may be effectively cleaned. Pressing hard upon the brush assemblies while the foot is being moved, the brushes may even be rotated. However, when the brushes are contacted lightly, they remain stationary due to the friction between the brush assemblies and the scraper plates 94.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cleaning device comprising a rotatably mounted support member, a pair of motor driven brush assemblies, each having a circular shape, rotatably and coaxially fixed in axially spaced relation on said support member, said brush assemblies each including a sleeve having a flexible cleaning surface on its outer periphery, first and second cleaning discs larger in diameter than said sleeve fixed to said shaft adjacent each end of said sleeve, said first and second discs each having a flexible cleaning surface opposing one another and overlapping said first mentioned surface so as to form an annular groove adapted to receive and clean a piece of footwear, said first surface comprising a multitude of radially extending bristles and said other surfaces comprising a multitude of axially extending bristles, said device further comprising a fixed cleaning plate extending into and across said groove in positive rubbing contact with the outer ends of said bristles, a scraper plate fixed to said device so as to have a scraping edge generally parallel to and of the same elevation as said first mentioned flexible cleaning surface, said scraper plate extending substantially the full length of said support member thus providing a scraping edge between the axially spaced brush assemblies so as to allow said piece of footwear to be scraped without interference from said brush assemblies while still maintaining the same relative position in relation to said device.

2. A cleaning device comprising a rotatably mounted support member, a pair of motor driven brush assemblies, each having a circular shape, rotatably and coaxially fixed in axially spaced relation on said support member, said brush assemblies each including a sleeve having a flexible cleaning surface on its outer periphery, first and second cleaning discs larger in diameter than said sleeve fixed to said shaft adjacent each end of said sleeve, said first and second discs each having a flexible cleaning surface opposing one another and overlapping said first mentioned surface so as to form an annular groove adapted to receive and clean a piece of footwear, said first surface comprising a multitude of radially extending bristles and said other surfaces comprising a multitude of axially extending bristles, said device further comprising a fixed cleaning plate extending into and across said groove in positive rubbing contact with the outer ends of said bristles, a scraper plate fixed to said device so as to have a scraping edge generally parallel to and of the same elevation as said first mentioned flexible cleaning surface, said scraper plate extending substantially the full length of said support member thus providing a scraping edge between the axially spaced brush assemblies so as to allow said piece of footwear to be scraped without interference from said brush assemblies while still maintaining the same relative position in relation to said device, said scraper plate being fixed to said device so as to have a slight oscillating movement, said scraper plate being connected to a switch means for the motor means in such a manner so that said motor means is actuated by a slight downward urging of said scraper plate, thus enabling said cleaning device to be automatically started whenever in use.

3. A cleaning device comprising a rotatably mounted support member, a pair of motor driven brush assemblies, each having a circular shape, rotatably and coaxially fixed in axially spaced relation on said support member, said brush assemblies each including a sleeve having a flexible cleaning surface on its outer periphery, first and second cleaning discs larger in diameter than said sleeve fixed to said shaft adjacent each end of said sleeve, said first and second discs each having a flexible cleaning surface opposing one another and overlapping said first mentioned surface so as to form an annular groove adapted to receive and clean a piece of footwear, said first surface comprising a multitude of radially extending bristles and said other surfaces comprising a multitude of axially extending bristles, said device further comprising a fixed cleaning plate extending into and across said groove in positive rubbing contact with the outer ends of said bristles, a scraper plate fixed to said device so as to have a scraping edge generally parallel to and of the same elevation as said first mentioned flexible cleaning surface,

said scraper plate being fixed to said device so as to have a slight oscillating movement, said scraper plate being connected to a switch means for the motor means in such a manner so that said motor means is actuated by a slight downward urging of said scraper plate, thus enabling said cleaning device to be automatically started whenever in use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 20,359 McKeachnie May 25, 1858 468,364 Prickett Feb. 9, 1892 955,941 Brewer Apr. 26, 1910 1,223,195 Molinari Apr. 17, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS 233,137 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1944 1,003,144 France Nov. 14, 1951 1,077,774 France May 5, 1954 1,111,058 France Oct. 26, 1955 

1. A CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING A ROTATABLY MOUNTED SUPPORT MEMBER, A PAIR OF MOTOR DRIVEN BRUSH ASSEMBLIES, EACH HAVING A CIRCULAR SHAPE, ROTATABLY AND COAXIALLY FIXED IN AXIALLY SPACED RELATION ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID BRUSH ASSEMBLIES EACH INCLUDING A SLEEVE HAVING A FLEXIBLE CLEANING SURFACE ON ITS OUTER PERIPHERY, FIRST AND SECOND CLEANING DISCS LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID SLEEVE FIXED TO SAID SHAFT ADJACENT EACH END OF SAID SLEEVE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND DISCS EACH HAVING A FLEXIBLE CLEANING SURFACE OPPOSING ONE ANOTHER AND OVERLAPPING SAID FIRST MENTIONED SURFACE SO AS TO FORM AN ANNULAR GROOVE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND CLEAN A PIECE OF FOOTWEAR, SAID FIRST SURFACE COMPRISING A MULTITUDE OF RADIALLY EXTENDING BRISTLES AND SAID OTHER SURFACES COMPRISING A MULTITUDE OF AXIALLY EXTENDING BRISTLES, SAID DEVICE FURTHER COMPRISING A FIXED CLEANING PLATE EXTENDING INTO AND ACROSS SAID GROOVE IN POSITIVE RUBBING CONTACT WITH THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID BRISTLES, A SCRAPER PLATE FIXED TO SAID DEVICE SO AS TO HAVE A SCRAPING EDGE GENERALLY PARALLEL TO AND OF THE SAME ELEVATION AS SAID FIRST MENTIONED FLEXIBLE CLEANING SURFACE, SAID SCRAPER PLATE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER THUS PROVIDING A SCRAPING EDGE BETWEEN THE AXIALLY SPACED BRUSH ASSEMBLIES SO AS TO ALLOW SAID PIECE OF FOOTWEAR TO BE SCRAPED WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM SAID BRUSH ASSEMBLIES WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE SAME RELATIVE POSITION IN RELATION TO SAID DEVICE. 